Abutment-mount system for dental implants

ABSTRACT

An abutment-mount for a dental implant has a longitudinally extending axis with a first end, an opposite second end and a peripheral surface. The abutment-mount is used for delivering the dental implant to a prepared site of a jawbone with an implant drive tool and is also used as a device for securing a dental prosthesis to the dental implant. The abutment-mount includes a screw, or other fastener for securing the abutment-mount to the implant. A surface is provided for attaching the dental prosthesis to the abutment-mount adjacent the first end. A structure is provided for transferring rotational force from the implant drive tool to the implant through the abutment-mount. An implant kit includes an abutment-mount, an implant and an abutment screw.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 08/356,597filed Dec. 15, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,830 the disclosure forwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS

This application for letters patent claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119(e) on a provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60/022,219, filedon Jul. 18, 1996. This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119(e) on a provisional patent application filed Mar. 5, 1997 entitled"Dental Implant System" Ser. No. 60/037,194.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to skeletal implants (such as dentalimplants) and more particularly to a dental implant kit that provides anabutment that also acts as a mount.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Dental implants are used to provide a platform to which a dentalprosthesis may be secured to underlying bone in the mandible or maxillaof a dental patient. A typical root form dental implant system employs adental implant that is placed in a prepared site in the underlying bone.A disposable mount is used to provide a connection to an insertion toolused to place the implant into the bone. If the implant is a threadedimplant, the mount is typically a removable extension of the implantthat provides a hex nut-type suface for engagement with a socket usedfor screwing the implant into the prepared site. Once the implant isengaged in the site, the mount is removed and discarded. A cover screwis affixed to the top of the implant and the bone surrounding theprepared site is allowed to grow into the implant for several months,thereby securing the implant to the bone.

Once the surrounding bone has sufficiently engaged the implant, thecover screw is removed and an impression coping is affixed to theimplant. An impression of the implant and the surrounding teeth is takenand a dental prosthesis is constructed using the impression as a modelof the area of the patient's mouth surrounding the implant site. Thedental prosthesis is then affixed to the abutment with cement, or otheraffixing means. Thus, the abutment acts as a platform for securing adental prosthesis to the implant.

The current method is wasteful and costly because the mount is discardedand a separate abutment must be procured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an abutment-mount for a dental implant, havinga longitudinally extending axis with a first end, an opposite second endand a peripheral surface. The abutment-mount is used for delivering thedental implant to a prepared site of a jawbone with an implant drivetool and is also used as a device for securing a dental prosthesis tothe dental implant. The abutment-mount includes a screw, or otherfastener, for securing the abutment-mount to the implant. A surface isprovided for attaching the dental prosthesis to the abutment-mountadjacent the first end. A structure is provided for transferringrotational force from the implant drive tool to the implant through theabutment-mount.

In another aspect of the invention a groove, defined by the peripheralsurface of the abutment-mount, is disposed circumferentially about theperipheral surface of the abutment-mount, thereby providing anattachment surface for cement used to affix the dental prosthesis to theabutment-mount adjacent the first end.

Yet another aspect of the invention is a dental implant kit for use withan implant drive tool. The kit includes a dental implant having acrestal end defining a first engagement surface. The kit also includesan abutment-mount, having a first end and an opposite second end, and aperipheral surface, the second end defining a second engagement surfacematingly engageable with the first engagement surface, the peripheralsurface defining a surface for engagement with the implant drive tool.The kit also includes a surface for securing the abutment-mount to thedental implant, thereby providing a platform for attachment of a dentalprosthesis to the implant.

An additional aspect of the invention provides a method of deploying andusing a dental implant in prepared site of a bone. The dental implant,having an abutment-mount coupled to the dental implant that transfersany rotational force received by the abutment-mount to the dentalimplant, is placed into the prepared site. Rotational force is appliedto the abutment-mount with an implant drive tool, thereby rotating thedental implant into the prepared site. The abutment-mount is removedfrom the dental implant for a preselected period to allow bone growthinto the dental implant, thereby affixing the dental implant to thebone. The abutment-mount is re-coupled to the implant and is thensecured to the dental implant. A dental prosthesis is then affixed tothe abutment-mount.

In yet another aspect of the invention, longitudinal force is applied tothe abutment-mount with an implant drive tool, thereby driving thedental implant into the prepared site.

One advantage of the invention is that the mount used to drive theimplant into the prepared site is also used as an abutment for securingthe prosthesis to the implant, thereby reducing the cost ofimplantation.

Another advantage of the invention is that it provides an abutment thatcan be secured in an impression material as part of a direct or indirectimpression technique.

These and other advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with thefollowing drawings, although variations and modifications may beeffected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novelconcepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded elevational view of an implant, an abutment-mount,an abutment screw and a socket for engaging the abutment-mount.

FIG. 2 is a top front perspective view of an abutment-mount and asocket.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an implant kit packaged in a vial.

FIG. 4A is a partial cut-away elevational view of a first embodiment ofa socket for use with a dental hand piece.

FIG. 4B is an elevational view of the socket of FIG. 4A engaged with anabutment-mount affixed to an implant.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of a socketfor use with a ratchet.

FIG. 6 is a top front perspective view of an implant and anabutment-mount using an elongated screw as part of a direct impressiontechnique.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail.Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughoutthe views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claimsthat follow, "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the descriptionherein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in"includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Also, "complimentary in shape" means generally having compatibledimensions, without necessarily having an identical shape.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the implant kit 10 of the present inventioncomprises a dental implant 50, an abutment-mount 20 and an abutmentscrew 40. The dental implant 50 may be one of several types, includingthe screw-type root-form dental implant shown. As show, the dentalimplant 50, the abutment-mount 20 and the abutment screw 40 are allaligned along a common axis 12. The implant 50, the abutment-mount 20and abutment screw 40 would be made from a material suitable for implantapplications, such as ASTM F-136 titanium alloy using a CNC machiningprocess. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, other materialsand manufacturing processes may be employed without departing from thescope of the invention.

The abutment-mount 20 has a first end 22, an opposite second end 24 anda peripheral surface 26. At least one drive tool engagement surface 28is provided for engagement with an implant drive tool 70, such as asocket. The engagement surface 28 could be a flat chordal surface, asshown, or any other of the many types of drive tool engagement surfacesthat are commonly known to the arts of fastener design and implantology(for example, an internal hex could be employed for engagement with anAllen wrench as a drive tool).

The implant 50 includes a crestal end 52 and a first rotationalengagement surface 54 adjacent the crestal end 52. The crestal end 52defines a first longitudinal opening 56 with internal threads forreceiving the abutment screw 40 therein. The abutment-mount 20 includesa second rotational engagement surface 30 that is complimentary in shapeto the first rotational engagement surface 54. The first rotationalengagement surface 54 may be a male polygonal surface (such as ahexagonal protrusion) extending from the crestal end 52, with the secondrotational engagement surface 30 being a corresponding female engagementsurface defined by the second end 24. Similarly, the first rotationalengagement surface 54 could be a female polygonal surface, while thesecond rotational engagement surface 30 is a corresponding malepolygonal surface. As would be obvious, many other types of engagementsurfaces (including non-polygonal surfaces) could be employed withsatisfactory results.

The abutment-mount 20 may be provided with one or more grooves 32defined by the peripheral surface 26 to provide additional surface areaon the abutment-mount 20 for cementing a dental prosthesis (not shown)thereto and for retention of impression material. Because theabutment-mount 20 performs both the function of an abutment, forsecuring a prosthesis to the implant 50, and the function of a mount,for driving the implant 50 into a prepared bone site, the presentinvention avoids the cost of supplying an additional, non-reusablemount.

The abutment-mount 20 is fastened to the implant 50 with the abutmentscrew 40. The abutment screw 40 may include a head portion 44, athreaded portion 46 and a non-threaded alignment portion 48 for aligningthe threads of the threaded portion 46 with the threads in the firstlongitudinal opening 56 of the implant 50. The head portion 44 definesan internal hex opening 42 for receiving a hex driver for screwing theabutment screw 40 into the first longitudinal opening 56 implant 50. Theabutment-mount 20 defines a second longitudinal opening 34 passingtherethrough, for receiving the abutment screw 40 therein. The secondlongitudinal opening 34 includes an enlarged top part 36 opening to thefirst end 22 and a narrowed part 38 opening to the second rotationalengagement surface 30. The enlarged top part 36 has a diametersufficient to receive the head portion 44 of the abutment screw 40,while the narrowed part 38 has a diameter sufficient to receive thethreaded portion 46 of the abutment screw 40. The length of the enlargedpart 36 is such that the head portion 44 is substantially flush with thefirst end 22 of the abutment-mount 20 when the abutment screw 40 and theabutment-mount 20 are properly affixed to the implant 50.

As shown in FIG. 3, the implant kit 10, including the implant 50, theabutment-mount 20 and cover screw 40 may be shipped together in apackage 80 comprising a vial 82 and a cap 84. The vial 82 may be made ofa plastic polymer, such as polyethylene, or any other suitable materialcommonly known to the art. At least one tab 90 extends outwardly fromthe cap 84 to prevent rolling of the package 80 when placed on a flatsurface.

A detente 88 extends from the center of the inside surface of the cap84. The detente 88 is shaped to fit into the second longitudinal opening34 of the abutment-mount 20, so that the detentes 88 holds the kit 10and prevents the threads 58 of the implant 50 from touching the innersurface of the vial 82. This is especially important, because thethreads may be coated with a coating, such as an apatite compound, thatcould flake is touched by the vial 82. The abutment screw 40 is held inplace by a plastic holder 92 that is polygonally-shaped (e.g. having ahexagonal shape) to prevent rolling of the holder and the abutment screw40 when they are placed on a flat surface.

As shown in FIGS. 4A & 4B, in one embodiment designed for use with astandard dental handpiece (not shown), the drive tool 70 used to drivethe implant 50 includes a socket 74 defining an opening 76 that iscomplimentary in shape to, and fits over, the abutment-mount 20.Extending upwardly from the socket 74 is a fitting 72 that couples tothe dental handpiece. The fitting 72 shown herein is designed to becoupled to an ISO 1791-1 standard dental handpiece.

In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, a drive tool 170 for usewith a ratchet (not shown) may also be used. The drive tool 170comprises a body portion 184, for engaging the ratchet, with a socket174 extending downwardly therefrom and a finger knurl 182 extendingupwardly therefrom. A recess 180 is defined by the body portion 184 forreceiving therein an O-ring 186. The finger knurl 182 may be supplied togive the implantologist the ability to start the implant by hand. Thesocket 174 defines a recess 176 that is complimentary in shape to theabutment-mount. The recess 176 may be provided with an o-ring 178 thatacts as a spacer to allow the abutment-mount to be easily disengagedfrom the socket 174.

As shown in FIG. 6, an elongated screw 190 may be supplied for use as animpression pin in the direct impression technique. The elongated screw190 fits into the second longitudinal opening 34 of the abutment-mount20 and has a drive structure 192, such as an internal hex, fortightening and loosening the elongated screw 190. In taking animpression using the elongated screw 190, impression material (notshown) is placed around the abutment-mount 20 and the elongated screw190 after the implant 50 has been driven into the bone. The elongatedscrew 190 goes through the impression material and tray so that thedrive structure 192 is not covered by the impression material. Once theimpression material has set, the elongated screw 190 is removed from theimplant 50 and the impression material and the emplaced abutment-mount20 is removed from the patient's mouth. The grooves 32 on theabutment-mount 20 provide a surface which improves holding by theimpression material. A healing screw (not shown) is affixed to theimplant 50.

While the bone is affixing the implant, a cast of the area around theimplant 50 is made from the impression material. The abutment-mount 20may fit into the cast, thereby allowing a dental prosthesis to beconstructed with the abutment-mount 20 providing a base with the samerelationship to the patient's mouth as it will eventually have when itis permanently affixed to the implant 50. The drive tool engagementsurface 28 provides a means of ensuring that the orientation of theabutment-mount 20 remains the same with respect to the implant 50 at alltimes. This function could also be accomplished by machining a markingonto the abutment-mount 20 to be used as a reference point. This ensuresa near exact fit between the prosthesis, the abutment-mount 20 and thepatients surrounding teeth.

The above embodiments are given as illustrative examples and are notintended to impose any limitations on the invention. It will be readilyappreciated that many deviations may be made from the specificembodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from theinvention. Accordingly it is intended to cover all such modifications aswithin the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An abutment-mount for a dental implant, having alongitudinally extending axis with a first end, an opposite second endand a peripheral surface, for delivery to a prepared site of a jawbonewith an implant drive tool and means for securing a dental prosthesis tothe dental implant, the dental implant also having a longitudinal axis,comprising:a. means for securing the abutment-mount to the implant; b.means for attaching the dental prosthesis to the abutment-mount adjacentthe second end; and c. means for transferring rotational force from theimplant drive tool to the implant through the abutment-mount.
 2. Theabutment-mount of claim 1, wherein the abutment-mount tapers toward thefirst end, thereby forming a truncated cone.
 3. The abutment-mount ofclaim 1, wherein the implant has a crestal end defining a firstlongitudinal opening, a portion of the opening being threaded, and theabutment-mount defines a second longitudinal opening passingtherethrough between the first end and the second end and wherein thesecuring means comprises a screw that is passable through the secondlongitudinal opening and engageable with the threaded portion of thefirst longitudinal opening in the implant.
 4. The abutment-mount ofclaim 1, wherein the implant has a first rotational engagement surfaceand the rotational force transferring means comprises:a. at least oneimplant drive tool engagement surface defined on the peripheral surfaceof the abutment-mount for engagement with the implant drive tool; and b.a second rotational engagement surface on the abutment-mount adjacentthe second end thereof and being matingly engageable with the firstrotational engagement surface on the implant,whereby when the implantdrive tool imparts rotational force on the implant drive tool engagementsurface, the second rotational engagement surface of the abutment-mountimparts rotational force on the first rotational engagement surface ofthe implant to screw the implant into the prepared site.
 5. Theabutment-mount of claim 4, wherein the implant drive tool engagementsurface is a chordal surface disposed on the peripheral surface of theabutment-mount.
 6. The abutment-mount of claim 5, wherein theabutment-mount has a longitudinal axis and the chordal surface isparallel to the longitudinal axis of the abutment-mount.
 7. Theabutment-mount of claim 5, wherein the chordal surface is non-parallelto the longitudinal axis of the abutment-mount.
 8. The abutment-mount ofclaim 4, wherein the first rotational engagement surface is a firstpolygonal surface and the second rotational engagement surface is asecond polygonal surface complimentary in shape to the first polygonalsurface.
 9. The abutment-mount of claim 8, wherein the first polygonalsurface is a male polygonal surface protruding from the crestal end ofthe implant extending along the longitudinal axis of the implant and thesecond polygonal surface is an opening defined by the second end of theabutment-mount, the opening having an interior female polygonal surfacecomplimentary in shape to the male polygonal surface.
 10. Theabutment-mount of claim 8, wherein the first polygonal surface is afemale polygonal surface extending along the longitudinal axis of theimplant and the second polygonal surface is a male polygonal surface,complimentary in shape to the female polygonal surface.
 11. Theabutment-mount of claim 1, further comprising means for indicating to auser an alignment of the abutment-mount with the implant.
 12. Theabutment-mount of claim 11, wherein the indicating means comprises amarking at a preselected location on the abutment-mount so that themarking is in alignment with a geometrical feature of the dental implantwhen the abutment-mount is properly coupled to the implant.
 13. Theabutment-mount of claim 12, wherein the marking comprises a flat surfacedisposed on the peripheral surface of the abutment-mount.
 14. Anabutment-mount for a dental implant, having a longitudinally extendingaxis with a first end, an opposite second end and a peripheral surface,for delivery to a prepared site of a jawbone with an implant drive tooland means for securing a dental prosthesis to the dental implant,comprising:a. means for securing the abutment-mount to the implant; b. agroove defined by the peripheral surface and disposed circumferentiallyabout the peripheral surface of the abutment-mount, thereby providing anattachment surface for cement used to affix the dental prosthesis to theabutment-mount adjacent the first end; and c. means for transferringrotational force from the implant drive tool to the implant through theabutment-mount.
 15. The abutment-mount of claim 14, further comprisingmeans for taking an impression of the abutment-mount.